Heuchera plant named ‘DOHEUGABECI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Heuchera plant named ‘DOHEURGABECI’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; densely foliated and bushy appearance; glossy leaves that are initially dark reddish green in color becoming dark green with development; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Heuchera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOHEUGABECI’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Heuchera Plant Named ‘DOHEUGABERU’

Inventor: Ellen van Sambeek

Filed: Jun. 13, 2022

Ser. No. 17/838,979

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Heuchera plant, botanically known as Heuchera hybrida, typically grown as a landscape Heuchera and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DOHEURGABECI’.

The new Heuchera plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Heuchera plants with attractive leaf coloration and good garden performance.

The new Heuchera plant originated from a cross-pollination of Heuchera hybrida ‘Obsidian’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,836, as the female, or seed, parent with Heuchera hybrida ‘Marmalade’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,945, as the male, or pollen, parent in June, 2016. The new Heuchera plant was discovered and selected as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in June, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Heuchera plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since July, 2017, has shown that the unique features of this new Heuchera plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Heuchera plant has not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DOHEURGABECI’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DOHEURGABECI’ as a new and distinct Heuchera plant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Densely foliated and bushy appearance.     -   4. Glossy leaves that are initially dark reddish green in color         becoming dark green with development.     -   5. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Obsidian’, in leaf color as leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are initially dark reddish green in color becoming dark green with development whereas leaves of plants of ‘Obsidian’ are very dark (almost black) in color.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Marmalade’, in leaf color as leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are initially dark reddish green in color becoming dark green with development whereas leaves of plants of ‘Marmalade’ are russet to amber in color.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of Heuchera hybrida ‘DOHEURABERU’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently, in leaf color as leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are initially dark reddish green in color becoming dark green with development whereas leaves of plants of ‘DOHEURABERU’ are initially reddish purple to greenish brown in color becoming yellowish green with development.

Plants of the new Heuchera can be also compared to plants of Heuchera hybrida ‘Amethyst Mist’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of ‘Amethyst Mist’ in leaf color as leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are initially dark reddish green in color becoming dark green with development whereas leaves of plants of ‘Amethyst Mist’ are red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Heuchera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Heuchera plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘DOHEURGABECI’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Heuchera production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were one year old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Second Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Heuchera hybrida ‘DOHEURGABECI’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Heuchera hybrida ‘Obsidian’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,836.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Heuchera hybrida ‘Marmalade’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,945. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   After rooting, time to produce a rooted young plant,             summer.—About twelve days at temperatures about 23° C.         -   After rooting, time to produce a rooted young plant,             winter.—About 16 days at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white to light yellow in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; basal rosette             plant habit with leaves developing from the base; densely             foliated and dense and bushy appearance; compact and             uniformly mounded plant habit; overall shape, flattened             globular; moderately vigorous growth habit; slow growth             rate.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 36 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate in basal rosettes; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate; palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate; sinuses medium in depth and divergent;             slightly undulate; ciliate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Initially, close to             59A becoming closer to 59A tinged with 147A with             development. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 59A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147A tinged with close to 59B; venation,             close to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Initially, close to 59A becoming closer to 148A             tinged with close to 59A with development. -   Flower description: To date, flower initiation and development has     not been observed on plants of the new Heuchera. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Heuchera have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Heuchera plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Heuchera have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures ranging     from about −29° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA

Hardiness Zones 5 through 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Heuchera plant named ‘DOHEURGABECI’ as illustrated and described. 